Brilliant stuff in the New York Daily News today about Ron Artest’s quixotic quest to regain custody of his young son. It will tug at your heartstrings. Among the gems:

* After Artest made up with his baby’s mama (more on why they broke up in a second) he allegedly tried to sleep with her – even though he was married to a woman who had given birth to three of his kids.

* When Artest went to family court in Queens, NY to seek full custody of his son, he represented himself because he was “feeling the pinch of having lost $5 million” during his 73-game suspension.

Here’s what strained the couple’s relationshp in the first place:

The couple, who dated when he was at St. John’s, fell out in May 2002, after she alleged that he grabbed her around the neck. No charges were filed, but Artest, then with the Indiana Pacers, surrendered to police after Palma claimed he’d violated a protection order by leaving her a message in which he warned, “If you don’t call me back, I’m going to have to hurt you.”

Give that man a kid!

It’s been a busy summer in Sacramento, and all has not necessarily been positive. Just yesterday, free agent Bonzi Wells fired his agent, presumably because he couldn’t secure some serious cash for Bonzi this summer after a strong playoff series against the Spurs. This leaves the Kings with John Salmons starting at shooting guard. And surely you remember Brad Miller’s underwhelming performance with Team USA.

Almost makes you long for the days of Chris Webber, his balky knees, and locker room explosions at reporters who were prying into his relationship with Tyra Banks. Good times.

Artest makes a play for custody of his son (New York Daily News)
Ron Artest’s Website (Ron Artest/Tru Warier)
Sacramento Kings (Kings Forum)